chant
Americannoun
-
chants
plural
-
a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.
-
a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
-
the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
-
any monotonous song.
-
a song; singing.
the chant of a bird.
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a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.
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a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.
verb (used with object)
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chants,
present (3rd person singular)
-
chanted,
past participle, past
-
chanting
present participle
-
to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.
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to sing.
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to celebrate in song.
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to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.
verb (used without object)
-
chants,
present (3rd person singular)
-
chanted,
past participle, past
-
chanting
present participle
-
to sing.
-
to utter a chant.
noun
-
a simple song or melody
-
a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms
-
a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody
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a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc
-
monotonous or singsong intonation in speech
verb
-
to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant
-
to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously
-
to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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chantsimple
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chantssimple
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have chantedperfect
-
has chantedperfect
-
am chantingprogressive
-
are chantingprogressive
-
is chantingprogressive
-
have been chantingperfect progressive
-
has been chantingperfect progressive
Past
-
chantedsimple
-
had chantedperfect
-
was chantingprogressive
-
were chantingprogressive
-
had been chantingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of chant
First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English chanten, from Middle French chanter, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere “to sing”; (noun) from French chant, from Latin cantus; see canto
Explanation
A chant is a type of song with a repetitive, monotonous structure. It’s also something sports fans love to do. At the Olympics, some Americans chant, “USA! USA! USA!” In addition to being something fans like to yell together, a chant is a traditional form in a lot of religious music. There are Catholic chants, Hindu chants, Jewish chants, and the list goes on. Because of this type of music, “to chant” means “to repeat something in a monotone or repetitive way.” Chants have no harmony or instruments, only a simple rhythm and a lot of repetition.
Vocabulary lists containing chant
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Who keeps us safe?” began a popular call-and-response protest chant I first heard during the George Floyd uprising and that resurfaced during Metro Surge.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
That sparked more than 100 supporters of the Indian leader to chant: "Modi, Modi", leading scores of police to intervene to keep the two sides apart.
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
In another clip obtained by The Times, one individual with a Spider-Man mask was seen climbing a traffic light before leading the crowd in a chant: “USA, USA, USA.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
"It's coming homes" cheers the Daily Mirror, using the football chant to mark Andy Burnham's "massive drive in building of council houses".
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
There’s a round of applause and whoops and cheers, and then everyone’s in on the chant: WE DID IT!
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
Draped in Palestinian flags, the coffins were carried through streets filled with nationalist songs and chants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
In Japan, baseball games are nine innings of songs and chants, drums and noise sticks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Young fans slumped on sidewalks, softly singing victory chants as the city slowly came back to life.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
Conductor Raphaël Pichon, leading Pygmalion, his period-instrument orchestra and chorus, padded the “Requiem” with some additional Mozart works and Gregorian chants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
I think of the grinning crowd and remember the chants.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
They were split by the fifth set, but as Djokovic pulled away in the tie-break, the fans chanted his name.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
"Free the boys," the demonstrators chanted on Saturday evening referring to 19 protesters still detained at a Tirana police station.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
The class then chanted the next word on the screen in front of them: “Peo-ple!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
He said, however, he was impressed by a giant "Viking row" performed by Norwegian fans in the Manhattan intersection, where thousands simultaneously chanted "Row!" while pulling imaginary oars.
From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026
You are a Luna, they chanted in unison, you are to be a farmer-priest for mother!
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Chelsea supporters appeared divided, with others responding by chanting his name.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Within 10 minutes of his debut supporters were already chanting his name.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Footage shared by rights groups on social media showed inmates sitting outside their cells chanting "no to execution".
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
“Everybody was chanting it. It was pretty awesome.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Somehow I believed that as long as the chanting went on, I had nothing to worry about.
From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
